Methods and systems for utilizing a unified namespace

Abstract

A method for managing file systems includes receiving, by a unified namespace manager, a first message that indicates a new file system has been created on a first node, performing an update on a top level file system namespace to include a reference to the new file system to generate an updated top level file system namespace, generating, based on the update, a second message that indicates the top level file system namespace has been updated, and sending, to a second node, the second message.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for managing file systems, comprising:
 receiving, by a unified namespace manager, a first message that indicates a new file system has been created on a first node; 
 performing an update on a top level file system namespace to include a reference to the new file system to generate an updated top level file system namespace, wherein performing the update on the top level file system namespace comprises:
 generating a file system entry associated with the new file system, wherein generating the file system entry associated with the new file system comprises:
 obtaining, from the first message, a file system name; 
 obtaining a file system identifier; 
 obtaining a file system address; and 
 generating a file system entry comprising the file system name, the file system identifier, and the file system address; and 
 
 adding, to the top level file system namespace, the file system entry; 
 
 generating, based on the update, a second message that indicates the top level file system namespace has been updated; and 
 sending, to a second node, the second message. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second message comprises a copy the updated top level file system namespace. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, from the second node, a request to send a copy of the top level file system namespace; 
 generating, based on the request, a third message that comprises the copy of the updated top level file system namespace; and 
 sending, to the second node, the third message. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the file system identifier comprises:
 identifying, in the top level file system namespace, a plurality of file system identifiers; and 
 generating the file system identifier, wherein the file system identifier is different than each of the plurality of file system identifiers. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the file system address comprises:
 identifying, based on the first message, a unique address of the first node; and 
 generating, based on unique address of the first node, the file system address. 
 
     
     
       6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer processor, enables the computer processor to perform a method for managing file systems, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a unified namespace manager, a first message that indicates a new file system has been created on a first node; 
 performing an update on a top level file system namespace to include a reference to the new file system to generate an updated top level file system namespace, wherein performing the update on the top level file system namespace comprises:
 generating a file system entry associated with the new file system, wherein generating the file system entry associated with the new file system comprises:
 obtaining, from the first message, a file system name; 
 obtaining a file system identifier; 
 obtaining a file system address; and 
 generating a file system entry comprising the file system name, the file system identifier, and the file system address; and 
 
 
 adding, to the top level file system namespace, the file system entry; 
 generating, based on the update, a second message that indicates the top level file system namespace has been updated; and 
 sending, to a second node, the second message. 
 
     
     
       7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the second message comprises a copy the updated top level file system namespace. 
     
     
       8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, from the second node, a request to send a copy of the updated top level file system namespace; 
 generating, based on the request, a third message that comprises the copy of the top level file system namespace; and 
 sending, to the second node, the third message. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein obtaining the file system identifier comprises:
 identifying, in the top level file system namespace, a plurality of file system identifiers; and 
 generating the file system identifier, wherein the file system identifier is different than each of the plurality of file system identifiers. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein obtaining the file system address comprises:
 identifying, based on the first message, a unique address of the first node; and 
 generating, based on unique address of the first node, the file system address. 
 
     
     
       11. A unified namespace manager, comprising:
 a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a first message that indicates a new file system has been created on a first node; 
 
 perform an update on a top level file system namespace to include a reference to the new file system to generate an updated top level file system namespace, wherein performing the update on the top level file system namespace comprises:
 generating a file system entry associated with the new file system, wherein generating the file system entry associated with the new file system comprises:
 obtaining, from the first message, a file system name; 
 obtaining a file system identifier; 
 obtaining a file system address; and 
 generating a file system entry comprising the file system name, the file system identifier, and the file system address; and 
 
 adding, to the top level file system namespace, the file system entry; 
 generate, based on the update, a second message that indicates the top level file system namespace has been updated; and 
 send, to a second node, the second message. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The unified namespace manager of  claim 11 , wherein the second message comprises a copy the updated top level file system namespace. 
     
     
       13. The unified namespace manager of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, from the second node, a request to send a copy of the top level file system namespace; 
 generate, based on the request, a third message that comprises the copy of the updated top level file system namespace; and 
 send, to the second node, the third message. 
 
     
     
       14. The unified namespace manager of  claim 11 , wherein obtaining the file system identifier comprises:
 identifying, in the top level file system namespace, a plurality of file system identifiers; and 
 generating the file system identifier, wherein the file system identifier is different than each of the plurality of file system identifiers.